Bellevue Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents are uniquely dangerous because they involve collisions with vehicles 20 to 30 times larger than the average commuter car. This size difference frequently leads to serious and debilitating injuries. If you were involved in a truck accident, it is possible to hold the responsible parties accountable through a claim or lawsuit. You do not need to carry the burden of someone else’s mistake forever.
At Herschensohn Law, we proudly support those recovering from truck accidents. We can handle every detail of your case and fight for every cent. While we worry about your financial recovery, you can take the necessary time to rest and recover physically.
Rather than dealing with insurance companies and expensive medical bills alone, let our Bellevue truck accident lawyers provide you with the support you deserve. Contact us at (206) 588-4344 for a free case consultation today.
Compensable Losses in Your Bellevue Truck Accident Case
You can recover every loss related to the accident. Some of them will seem obvious after an accident, while others may never cross your mind without a lawyer’s insight. Compensable expenses in personal injury cases include:
Economic Damages
Economic damages directly affect your financial resources. They include:
- Present and ongoing medical expenses
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Property damage, like vehicle repairs
- Miscellaneous expenses
Your attorneys will review your medical bills, paychecks, and other pertinent financial information to ensure you have accounted for every dime you deserve. With these details on hand, they can calculate your losses and seek what you’re owed.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages do not have distinct monetary values associated with them, and how much you can recover will depend on the severity of your accident and injuries. These types of damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship if a loved one passed away
The types of compensable damages vary from case to case. This is only a brief list, and some damages not noted here may apply to your unique situation. If you are unsure about what you can recover, consult the team at Herschensohn Law.
How Much Can I Recover After a Truck Accident in Bellevue?
The value of your case will hinge on several factors, including:
- Your pre-injury earning capacity
- The severity of your injuries
- Your applicable medical expenses
- The law firm you choose to work with
- The outcome of settlement negotiations
At Herschensohn Law, we have helped our clients recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. To achieve a positive outcome, we review the details of your accident to determine an appropriate settlement value. We will also discuss the circumstances around your accident with you thoroughly. Doing this ensures that you have provided us with all the information we need to negotiate.
Do not leave out any details when speaking with your attorneys. Everything you share with us is confidential, and any information you offer helps us build your case.
Why Work With the Bellevue Truck Accident Lawyers at Herschensohn Law?
After an accident, it is normal to run into problems like:
- Insurance companies offering you less than you deserve
- Not knowing what to do next
- Being unsure if a settlement offer is fair
- Uncertainty about filing a lawsuit
- Confusion about the process of filing a lawsuit
- Struggling to figure out who is responsible for your injuries
At Herschensohn Law, we know the problems that our clients run into following truck accidents. Because we have seen these issues in the past, we are prepared to help our clients overcome them, whether that means speaking with an insurance company or simply offering guidance.
Our team of Bellevue truck accident lawyers provides the following services:
- Answering any questions you have about your case
- Building your case and legal strategy
- Standing toe-to-toe with insurance companies and the liable party
- Protecting your best interests
- Always fighting for the best settlement possible
- Taking your case to court if needed
As we provide our services, you can take the necessary time to rest and recover. Your financial recovery is important, but your physical recovery is paramount. Do not let stress and uncertainty prevent you from making a full physical recovery. We’re here to make the post-accident aftermath as stress-free as possible.
The Statute of Limitations Applies to All Truck Accident Lawsuits in Bellevue
After a truck accident, you typically have three years to file a lawsuit, per RCW 4.16.080. If you do not file within this timeframe, you may not be able to recover any compensation. While three years might sound like a long time, a strong case takes months to build, so it is best to not run down the clock.
By hiring a lawyer right after your accident, you ensure that they have enough time to build your case and present a lawsuit. Herschensohn Law offers free consultations, and we work on a contingency-fee basis. This means we only get paid if you win. So, contact us as soon as possible, and let us get to work for you.
Who Is at Fault for My Truck Accident Injuries?
To recover compensation, you must prove that another party caused or contributed to your injuries by behaving negligently. In some cases, other parties may share liability.
Possible liable parties in a truck accident case include:
- A trucking company: Bellevue and the rest of the state adheres to a law known as vicarious liability. Under this law, you can hold employers liable for the actions of their employees. Similarly, if a trucking company’s direct actions, like encouraging employees to shirk federal safety regulations, caused your accident, they could also be held liable.
- A trucker: Some truckers and commercial vehicle drivers operate independently of companies. If an independent driver caused your accident, you could pursue a claim with their liability insurer or file a lawsuit.
- Another driver: Just because your accident involved a truck does not mean it was caused by a truck. Car drivers cause truck accidents, too and they should need in this situation a Bellevue car accident attorney. If a vehicle driver was negligent in their behavior and caused your accident, then you can file a personal injury claim against them.
- Other examples: Other less-obvious parties, like a government agency or vehicle manufacturer, may have played a role in your accident. Uncovering the at-fault and liable parties typically requires an in-depth investigation––and it’s nothing that Herschensohn Law can’t handle.
How Do I Demonstrate Liability?
Proving liability requires evidence which, after a truck accident, often includes:
- A trucker’s daily log, used to document hours of service
- The truck’s EDR
- Dashcam footage
- Traffic camera footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert input, like from a crash reconstruction specialist
- Medical records
- Proof of expenses and damages
At Herschensohn Law, we have your post-accident investigation covered. Our team of Bellevue truck accident lawyers can gather evidence, interview witnesses, and connect with relevant experts on your behalf. Wasting time scratching your head about liability is not necessary; we have your back.
Our Lawyers Prove the Required Elements of Negligence
The evidence above is not enough to prove that another party is liable for your injuries. After gathering evidence, your lawyers will use what they have collected to meet the four legal elements of negligence. Essentially, these criteria connect a party’s actions to your injuries.
The elements of negligence involve proving that:
- The liable party owed you a duty of care: Truckers, trucking companies, and vehicle drivers all owe other roadway users a duty of care. This duty translates to a responsibility to keep others from harm.
- The liable party did not uphold this duty: Behaving negligently, like running a red light, hiring drivers with unsafe records, or otherwise ignoring roadway rules, breaches the duty of care.
- The liable party’s negligent behavior caused your accident and injuries: This element of negligence is self-explanatory; the evidence must show that another party’s negligence directly caused your injuries.
- You suffered verifiable damages: From vehicle repairs to medical expenses, you suffered verifiable damages after your truck accident. Medical records, receipts, pay stubs, and expert assessments help verify damages.
Our firm is intimately familiar with the elements of negligence. If you join our firm as a client, you will not need to stress over identifying another party’s negligent behavior.
What Should I Do After a Bellevue Truck Accident?
The aftermath of a truck accident is often stressful and confusing. Between your serious injuries and medical bills, you might not know what to do next. In the immediate aftermath of your accident, it is important that you get to a safe place and get the medical care you need right away.
After that, there are a few steps you can take to get your case on the right track, such as:
Scheduling Doctor’s Appointments
If you suffered injuries, you should speak with a doctor as soon as possible, even if you were taken to a hospital immediately following your accident. A follow-up appointment can diagnose underlying conditions, and doctors can further diagnose your injuries and provide you with a treatment plan. Additionally, medical reports create verifiable records of your injuries; without these records, it will be challenging to prove that you were injured.
Notifying Law Enforcement
State law requires that truck accident claimants report collisions to the police if:
- Anyone was hurt
- Anyone passed away at the accident scene
- Property damage exceeds $1,000
If the police were not at the scene of your truck accident, it is likely that you’ll need to submit a collision report, according to the Bellevue Police Department. Filing a police report prevents the other party from claiming an accident did not occur.
Keeping and Gathering Evidence
The contact information of the involved parties, images from the accident scene, and proof of your expenses can serve as valuable evidence. While our team of Bellevue truck accident lawyers can gather this evidence on your behalf, it does not hurt to get a head start and keep certain information as it becomes available.
Considering Hiring the Team at Herschensohn Law
Truck accidents have multiple moving parts that you, as a survivor, do not need to manage alone. Weigh your options and consider working with an experienced law firm.
Feeling overwhelmed? Remember that you were not in the wrong, and thus, you should not have to suffer the stress and mental anguish that occurs following a truck accident. Our Bellevue truck accident lawyers can guide you through your case from start to finish
Take It From Our Previous Clients; Herschensohn Law Cares
Nobody speaks to our commitment better than our previous personal injury clients. Some have disclosed:
- “Zach and his team performed beyond my expectations! I couldn’t have had a better firm in my corner!” ––J.S.
- “Professional, courteous, and attentive are just a few words I would use to describe this law firm and although I hope to never be in a similar situation again––if I do, Herschensohn Law will be my first call!” ––R.B.
- “[Attorney Zach Herschensohn] took the lead and guided me through everything necessary to achieve a successful outcome. Overall, I am very pleased with his service and would highly recommend him to anyone.” ––P.R.
Do Not Wait to Get Started on Your Truck Accident Case
After a truck accident, you will have questions about what to do next. If you suffered serious injuries, cannot work, and still need to provide for your family, you may wonder how you are going to make it all work. Rather than stressing over the circumstances surrounding your accident, contact Herschensohn Law.
We are ready to get you the compensation you deserve. We will work tirelessly to review and build your case. Our lawyers will speak with insurance companies, prove negligence, and keep you apprised from start to finish. For a free consultation, contact our office at (206) 588-4344.
Our results speak for themselves
After a worker was electrocuted on a construction site and suffered life-changing injuries, we fought and won on their behalf.
When a retired man was killed in a truck accident, we made sure his grieving family got fair compensation.
When a defective medical device harmed our client, we fought to ensure they had the financial compensation needed to recover.
Hurt? Let our law firm handle the details
When you request your free consultation, Kent personal injury attorney Zach Herschensohn will listen to you, answer your questions, lay out your legal options, and give you down-to-earth legal advice.
When you work with our law office, there are no obligations, hidden fees, or fine print. It’s that simple.
We’re proud to fight—and win—for injured people in Kent, Washington. View our case results to learn more.
Lawyers typically take 25% to 40% of the settlement in a car accident case, often working on a contingency basis.
In Washington, the statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits is generally three years from the date of the accident.
In Washington, you should report an accident to law enforcement within four days if there are injuries or fatalities, or within ten days for property damage-only accidents.
No, Washington is not a no-fault state. It follows a fault-based system, where the at-fault party’s insurance typically covers damages in an accident.